Germany to send Ukraine last seven Gepard anti-aircraft tanks in spring, reports Spiegel
Berlin may also try to purchase more Gepards for Ukraine in Brazil or Qatar (Photo:kmweg.com)
Germany will hand over seven Gepard anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine in the spring of 2023, German newspaper Spiegel reported on Nov. 2 citing its own sources.
According to the publication, the warehouses of the Bundeswehr contain seven Gepards, which were previously supposed to be scrapped but are now are about to be transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“The seven Gepards, which were actually intended for scrapping, are currently being repaired by the Munich-based arms company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), and they are to be delivered to Ukraine in the spring,” Spiegel said.
Germany also hopes to transfer ammunition for anti-aircraft guns to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which is currently in short supply.
Most of the ammunition for the Gepards was made in Switzerland, but while Ukraine urgently needs the ammunition to defend itself from Russian aggression, the government of this country claims it wants to remain neutral, and is not granting permits for the export of the ammunition.
Berlin may also try to purchase more Gepards for Ukraine in Brazil or Qatar. Both countries bought anti-aircraft systems years ago to protect major events such as the World Cup, Spiegel added.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously promised to supply the Armed Forces with additional Gepard systems. Germany has already transferred 30 air defense systems of this type to Ukraine.
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